Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog and cat gallbladder swelling linked to heart disease
By Lisciandro, Gregory R et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2021·Hill Country Veterinary Specialists, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Thirteen dogs and a cat with ultrasonographically detected gallbladder wall edema associated with cardiac disease.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 13 dogs and 1 cat were found to have swelling of the gallbladder wall, which was linked to heart disease. The pets showed symptoms like weakness, collapse, and breathing problems. Many of the dogs had fluid around their hearts, and some required a procedure to remove this fluid. The ultrasound findings helped the veterinarians identify the heart issues, leading to appropriate treatments. Most of the pets received care for their heart conditions, which improved their overall health.
People also search for: dog gallbladder swelling heart disease · cat heart problems symptoms · dog weakness and collapse treatment
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Ultrasonographically detected gallbladder wall edema (GBWE) is a marker for anaphylaxis in dogs. Cardiac disease can cause GBWE with similar signs and should be included as a differential diagnosis to prevent interpretation errors. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: Document GBWE associated with cardiac disease. ANIMALS: Fourteen client-owned animals. METHODS: Prospective case series with abdominal focused assessment with abdominal sonography in trauma, triage and tracking (AFAST), and thoracic focused assessment with abdominal sonography in trauma, triage, and tracking (TFAST) performed at triage. Animals with GBWE and cardiac disease were enrolled. A board-certified radiologist reviewed images to confirm cardiac disease, GBWE, and characterize the caudal vena cava (CVC) and hepatic veins. RESULTS: Thirteen dogs and 1 cat had GBWE associated with cardiac disease. Gallbladder findings included mural thickness ranging from 3 to 5 mm, mild to moderate sludge (n = 3), and mild to moderate luminal distension (n = 6). CVC and hepatic venous distension were found in 5/6. Cardiac diagnoses in dogs included 11 with pericardial effusion (PCE) and 1 each with dilated cardiomyopathy and right-sided myocardial failure. Severity of PCE was rated as mild (n = 1), moderate (n = 6), or severe (n = 4). Seven of 11 had pericardiocentesis performed. Nine of 13 had ascites with 4 having abdominal fluid scores of 1 (n = 2), 2 (n = 2), 3 (n = 1), and 4 (n = 0). Lung ultrasound findings were as follows: dry lung (n = 6), B-lines (n = 4), and nodules (n = 1). The cat had moderate PCE, ascites scored as 1, and severe right-sided ventricular enlargement associated with a ventricular septal defect. Primary presenting complaints included acute weakness (n = 9), acute collapse (n = 5), gastrointestinal signs (n = 3), respiratory distress (n = 2), and need for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (n = 1). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Ultrasonographically detected GBWE was associated with PCE in this small cohort of cases.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33826214/